Trainworx refrigerator units.

[Bendtracker1]

With the announcements of there latest run of TOFC and trailers
It reminded me of a project I'd like to work on.
I'd like to make several reefer trailers for a key train to run.

Trainworx lists two types of refrigerator units that can added to
any trailer, I'd like to use their #4096 Nose reefer kit.
They refer to it as an early unit.

Do any of you trailer gurus know what era these units would fit?
I'm modeling 1983.

[nkalanaga]

Since their trailers tend to be from the 60s and early 70s, the reefer units probably are also.  I'm NOT a "trailer guru", but I don't remember them changing much until after the 45 foot and longer trailers became common.  Unless you have a particular prototype in mind, I doubt that most viewers would question these.

[Bendtracker1]

Thanks.
I don't have a particular prototype in mind as I'm modeling the Rock past the shut down, so I can stretch things as needed.
I know the BLMA units would be too new for me, I just try to keep things in perspective.

I'll give them a whirl.

[GaryHinshaw]

Based on the (small) picture of the model on the MBK site, and on this Thermo-King history page, I'm going to guess that this reefer unit was introduced in 1975.  I could be wrong though.

1975
The introduction of the first wide-post trailer unit (XNWD) provides a low-intrusion flat evaporator for high cube trailer loads (later followed by the Super Boss™ and Precedent™ series). This unit design reshapes the refrigeration trailer unit industry.

[Bendtracker1]

Thanks Gary!
That'll be close enough for my foobs.

[jagged ben]

Probably those would be kind of old to make it to 1983.  By the late seventies and early 80s these units were starting to look a little more modern, with some aerodynamics and getting bigger.

Not a great pic but it's from 1983.
http://pfe_coi.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3362322
See trailer poking out from the right.
Also note that the Sunkist trailer still has a belly-mounted unit, so perhaps that Trainworx part is a more plausible bet.

Newer Thermo king model in 1980:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=47615
Older Carrier model in 1980:
http://pfe_coi.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3358791
(Same or similar from 1976):
http://pfe_coi.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3358788

Here's a twitter pic I found with google, that matches the trainworx part pretty well.  No date but by clothing and photography style it sure looks more like 1970 than 1980.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUMaK1rUEAAj60C.png

With all that said, unless you scratch build something, I don't think you'll get something more appropriate for a nose mounted unit.   Plus, if you're positing that the Rock somehow kept everything going on a shoestring, maybe that makes older units more plausible.   

[Bendtracker1]

With all that said, unless you scratch build something, I don't think you'll get something more appropriate for a nose mounted unit.   Plus, if you're positing that the Rock somehow kept everything going on a shoestring, maybe that makes older units more plausible.   

This make more sense than anything.
Thanks for the pics and the info Ben...

I'll have a go with the Trainworx nose mounted units and see how they turn out.

[nkalanaga]

Trailer reefer units will last a long time with proper maintenance, so the only real limit is that they probably wouldn't be older than the trailer itself.  A prosperous company might upgrade them regularly, but like Jagged Ben said, The Rock wasn't a prosperous company.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Allen,
The Thermoking reefer units lasted right into the 1990's:
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/trucks/mike_boyd/2008/07-03/pauline_&_sons_pb_359_reefer_az_92.html

They will look right at home in 1983. In fact, they were still seen in the late 1990's on older trailers:
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/trucks/truckzo/2015/08-16/refrigerados_reefer_trailers/refrigerados_2_selladas.jpg

Although the photo is undated, the F150 is at least a 1999. I am not sure what the white car in the background is, but the twin grill and large headlights didn't become common until at least 2003.

[Bendtracker1]

Thanks Daniel!
That Ford F150 is at least a 1997. 

So yeah I'll be safe using the older ThermoKing units.

Thanks for the info!!!